How Long Can $45 Possibly Last?

A friend recently wrote this as her Facebook status:

HolyMarymotherofGod. $60?!? To fill up a Civic? I need smelling salts and/or a paper bag to breathe into - STAT.

I had to laugh because just moments before, I was having a similar pump-side freak out with my little Ford Focus. With the way gas prices have been steadily increasing the past few years, you'd think we'd be used to the "shock" by now. But no.

Clearly, I don't wish financial strife upon anyone, myself included. However, I can't help but see the positive side of this bank breaking situation. People may admit to a problem (in this case, the ongoing reliance of Americans on their cars) but until they feel it on the wallet, they may not actually do anything about it. There are always too many other things to worry about. However, I think that the tide is turning.

I am thrilled that some of those non-lumber/machinery toting, truck driving Americans are trading in their F150s for smaller, more fuel efficient cars. Others are beginning to realize that they don't need a bus to transport their two children. And how about those folks who are getting more serious about carpools, mass transit, and actually making their kids walk a few blocks? Hello, insta-response to the child obesity epidemic! Besides, don't we love killing two birds with one stone?

Even I, who believe me, has NO room for increased spending in the budget can't help but see the advantages of paying $45 at the gas pump. Always challenging myself to live more efficiently and healthfully, I find myself challenged by these numbers. How long can I last on one tank of gas? What can I do to drive as little as possible? I've been lucky that most of my work takes place at home. I might drive to a work place twice a week. Could I take the bus there? I actually don't think so which makes me very sad. Could I bike there? Well, that is a distance to aspire to. Plus, there's that small matter of not actually having a bike yet. (Another goal for this year.)

Already pretty darn organized when it comes to running errands, I'm now super duper organized. If I'm heading to the west side to visit a friend, I think about everything I can possibly accomplish along the way. If I end up forgetting about a stop, I think about the actual necessity of that errand. Can it wait a few weeks until the next big run? Usually, it can. And then there are the things I can accomplish locally. I'm so glad that among other places, I can walk to the bank, the library, my favorite coffee shop, and the grocery store. (Again, two birds with one stone. I love when a simple errand can result in getting crap done while also burning a few calories!)

But I'm no saint. Sometimes, I don't love walking everywhere, especially in the harsh elements of Wisconsin weather. Other times, I can only think about the time I am "wasting", knowing that a 20 minute walk could also be a quick, five minute drive. But in my world of ALWAYS HAVING TO BE PRODUCTIVE, I am the person who needs a kick in the pants to slow down and literally stop and smell and the roses. This, you can't do so well when going 40 mph. But during a leisurely stroll to the grocery store, I have literally found myself doing this. Oh, and another advantage of leaving the car at home? No annoying parking issues, hooray!

Now don't get me wrong. I used to live in the middle of rural American. I know that a car is a necessity for many. Unfortunately for most Americans, it really is, especially when government officials decide to pass up amazing mass transit opportunities. But I digress.

Now that summer is upon us, I am reminded that I adore nothing more than short road trips with the windows down. But guess what? There will be very little of that happening this summer. Friends, if I can't walk to your place, we will have to take turns visiting one another. Fam? Same goes for you.

Speaking of travel, I've realized that as much as I love to travel around the world, I have contributed to some major fuel usage and I feel sort of guilty and hypocritical about that. I'm not saying that everyone should stay home for the rest of their lives. In fact, I feel pretty strongly that people should get out and see how different parts of the world work. However, there is something to be said about taking stock of what's happening in your own region, your city, your neighborhood, maybe even your backyard. My sisters and I spent our summers catching toads and making mud pies in the backyard. And if we weren't mucking around in the dirt, we were still together. We jumped rope, played Barbies, watched re-runs of Gilligan's Island, and quite frankly, got to know one another pretty darn well which I'm afraid some kids today aren't doing.

Wait, is it possible to kill four birds with one stone? Could cutting back on our fuel intake mean more money in the wallet, a cleaner environment, healthier bodies, and more opportunities to actually sit down and get to know one another? Oh, and then there's that little matter of decreasing our reliance on foreign fuel sources. Five birds?? Score!

So on this Father's Day, I will make a phone call instead of a visit. And that's okay. As someone who helped teach me much about being practical and efficient, he will be the first to understand. Plus, I think he'd be pretty darn impressed that I made one tank of gas last over three weeks. I know I am.